Sunday, August 31, 2008

JACKSON, Miss. -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are urging illegal immigrants to flee the Gulf Coast before Hurricane Gustav's arrival, telling them not to be worried about checkpoints.

Agency spokesman Brandon Montgomery says there are no immigration enforcement operations, and no immigration enforcement checkpoints associated with evacuations.

He says the Department of Homeland Security's top priorities in any emergency "are lifesaving and life-sustaining activities."

ICE conducted the largest single-workplace immigration raid in U.S. history last week at Howard Industries, Inc., in Laurel. The raid caused panic among Hispanic families in the area after federal agents rounded up nearly 600 plant workers suspected of being in the country illegally.